Almost 50 Perth models wanting to take their careers to the next level strutted their stuff at an open casting call on Wednesday, hoping to secure a spot in Claremont Quarter’s spring and summer fashion show.
The up-and-coming male and female models walked in front of a judging panel of style experts, where some will make the final 30 for the runway event Courting Summer on September 10.
The models will showcase the latest trends for the upcoming season, with Australian fashion designer Pip Edwards returning to Perth after 15 years for a Q&A.
Edwards co-founded the luxe activewear label P.E Nation in 2016 before stepping down from the company in 2024. She is the creative director of Ksubi and has worked for Sass & Bide and General Pants Co.
Perth tradie-turned-model Reiss McMahon, who previously ran a mobile detailing business in Scotland, decided to participate in the casting as a new experience outside his comfort zone.
“I moved to Australia, started working with my mate who does bricklaying, and I’ve just been, you know, helping him out on the tools, so the transition from that to this is completely different,” he said.
New to the modelling world, Mr McMahon sees nervousness as excitement for new challenges and hopes to make his runway debut.
“It would be a cool experience to land a gig like that would be mind-blowing. It just shows you that anything is possible,” he said.
Mr McMahon encouraged others to seize opportunities, believing that saying yes to everything can significantly change one’s life.
Also vying for a place on the runway in what would be a major career milestone is Renato Gomes, originally from Portugal, who plans to build his modelling career locally, aiming for diverse experiences and jobs.
“The CQ event is a really good opportunity for fashion models. Like if you’re starting, or even if you already have some experience, because it gives you more visibility as a model,” he said.
Mr Gomes said that fashion is a means of self-expression and prefers classic and formal styles.
“Fashion is just like a way that we have to express ourselves and our personality. We don’t have to blend in and be the same as all the other people,” he said.
CQ senior marketing manager Kate Peasley said it was a significant event for Perth, as the city hasn’t seen a runway of this scale since the Perth Fashion Festival, which ended its 20-year run in 2019.
“We wanted to give the opportunity to younger talent to be able to put themselves forward and represent CQ and our retailers in the show as well,” she said.
“The event aims to provide local talent with valuable experience and exposure.”
Other models hoping to be cast have experience walking for Dior and Fendi in Milan and have appeared at Melbourne Fashion Week.
Mature and curve models will also be featured to ensure diversity across the event.
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